You must not fear immigration, says John Key

New Zealanders don’t need to be frightened by immigration the way people in some other countries are, Prime Minister John Key says.

“In the UK it was about not being able to control it,” he said.

“In New Zealand we do control migration.”

Mr Key was talking to reporters today after speaking at National’s annual conference in Christchurch, and he was asked whether he thought Brexit and immigration problems in other EU countries could spill over at home.

He says arguments about immigration have been going on for years, with NZ First leader Winston Peters at the forefront.

“If you break it down, which bits would people really want to stop?”

“Certainly not returning Kiwis or Australians. Certainly not people on working holidays or in the skills category… our conditions are different; we keep a close watch on it.”

Mr Key says not long ago the debate was about Kiwis leaving the country.

“It was about if you wanted to see your grandchildren you should go to the departure lounge,” he said.

“Eight years ago we were fretting about people leaving.

“I think the challenges we have at the moment are a far better set of circumstances.”

The debate isn’t as simple as net immigration being good or bad. As readers of the blog well know, we have a problem with unrestrained immigration and unfiltered immigration.

Immigrants who do not have the intention to integrate. Immigrants who have the intention to change the New Zealand way of life. Immigrants who do not value women the way we do.

There are the ones who are being let into the country. These are the same general group of people causing trouble in the very “other countries” that John Key refers to.

National may be holding the economy’s head above water with immigration right now, for which they are rightly congratulated. There is no doubt, however, that it is sowing the seeds of problems that another generation will have to find a solution for; long after National can be blamed for putting today’s economy ahead of the next generation’s safety and quality of life.

– Newshub

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